Museum’s history fragmentsThe idea of the museum was nurtured and implemented by a group of architects, engineers and museum workers united by the head of Klaipeda administration of many years standing A. Zalys.
Lithuanian Maritime Museum was established in the place called Kopgalis where fishermen’s village started settling since the 19th century. The fortress of Kopgalis was destroyed in 1945 and was not used for some time.Â
Maritime division of Klaipeda ethnographic museum (now Museum of history of Lithuania Minor) having propagated the idea of this unique museum, collected exhibits, prepared expositions made the start for the Lithuanian Maritime Museum in 1971.
In the history of its establishment three stages are distinguished:
1) 1970-1979
The central readout of the fortress was rebuilt, the fortress of Kopgalis restored, an exposition arranged. Aquarium with freshwater fishes of Lithuanian lakes and rivers and the Baltic Sea was built, expositions of sea fauna etc. arranged. In the first stage of the establishment of the museum the exposition became a composite one, embracing all spheres of relations between the man and the sea.
On July 28, 1979 the exposition was opened to public.
2) 1980-1985
It was a turning point to the attractiveness of the museum. It was aimed to excite the curiosity of visitors in the sea flora and fauna, to encourage perceiving and preserving it. Four open-air pools for large sea-mammalia and performance grounds with a little pool were built, near-by - a viewing-stand arranged.
Animal breading was commenced.Â
3) 1986-1994
This period is connected with the arrangement of the dolphinarium.
Sea animals were bred successfully.
In 1997 the museum was granted the status of the Republican museum.Â
Since 1998 the museum is within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania